Computer assisted diagnosis and computer consultation in neurology: preliminary testing of diagnostic accuracy for...

The Neurologist system is a computer program for consultation in clinical neurology which employs human-like reasoning in diagnosis, covers a broad diagnostic domain, has the capacity to explain strategies and conclusions and is readily expandable. Neurologist employs the strategy of first localizing a neurologic disease, then uses these data as well as mode of disease onset, rapidly to focus on a limited number of diagnostic possibilities which are then sequentially investigated. This paper presents the results of the preliminary assessment of Neurologist's diagnostic accuracy. For a set of 30 test cases, the system's leading diagnosis was correct in 77%, and separation of correct and incorrect diagnostic hypotheses was excellent. Further evaluations of the system are in progress.